Abstract: A printhead includes a liquid source, a first substrate, a filter, and a liquid chamber. Portions of the first substrate define a nozzle adapted to emit liquid from the liquid source. The liquid chamber includes a port. The liquid chamber is in fluid communication with the nozzle and the filter and is positioned between the first substrate and the filter.

Abstract: A printhead includes a liquid manifold. A filter is in fluid communication with the liquid manifold. A nozzle plate includes a length and an array of nozzles extending along the length of the nozzle plate. A liquid chamber is positioned between the nozzle plate and the filter. The liquid chamber is in fluid communication with the array of nozzles and the filter and includes a width that is substantially perpendicular to the length of the nozzle plate. The liquid chamber includes a structure that is spaced apart from the nozzle plate and in contact with the filter. The structure spans the width of the liquid chamber and includes a plurality of flow through channels. A liquid source provides a liquid through the manifold, the filter, the liquid chamber under pressure sufficient to jet individual streams of the liquid from the array of nozzles.

Abstract: A printhead includes a liquid manifold. A filter is in fluid communication with the liquid manifold. A nozzle plate includes a length and an array of nozzles extending along the length of the nozzle plate. A liquid chamber is positioned between the nozzle plate and the filter. The liquid chamber is in fluid communication with the array of nozzles and the filter and includes a width that is substantially perpendicular to the length of the nozzle plate. The liquid chamber includes a structure that is spaced apart from the nozzle plate and spaced apart from the filter. The structure spans the width of the liquid chamber. A liquid source provides a liquid through the manifold, the filter, the liquid chamber under pressure sufficient to jet individual streams of the liquid from the array of nozzles.

Abstract: A jet break-off length measurement apparatus for a continuous liquid drop emission system is provided. The jet break-off length measurement apparatus comprises a liquid drop emitter containing a positively pressurized liquid in flow communication with at least one nozzle for emitting a continuous stream of liquid. Heater resistor apparatus is adapted to transfer pulses of thermal energy to the liquid in flow communication with the at least one nozzle sufficient to cause the break-off of the at least one continuous stream of liquid into a stream of drops of predetermined volumes. A sensing apparatus adapted to detect the stream of drops of predetermined volumes is provided. A control apparatus is adapted to determine a characteristic of the stream of drops of predetermined volumes that is related to the break-off length. Further apparatus is adapted to inductively charge at least one drop and to cause electric field deflection of charged drops.

Abstract: A printhead includes a liquid manifold. A filter is in fluid communication with the liquid manifold. A nozzle plate includes a length and an array of nozzles extending along the length of the nozzle plate. A liquid chamber is positioned between the nozzle plate and the filter. The liquid chamber is in fluid communication with the array of nozzles and the filter and includes a width that is substantially perpendicular to the length of the nozzle plate. The liquid chamber includes a structure that is spaced apart from the nozzle plate and in contact with the filter. The structure spans the width of the liquid chamber and includes a plurality of flow through channels. A liquid source provides a liquid through the manifold, the filter, the liquid chamber under pressure sufficient to jet individual streams of the liquid from the array of nozzles.

Abstract: A printhead includes a liquid manifold. A filter is in fluid communication with the liquid manifold. A nozzle plate includes a length and an array of nozzles extending along the length of the nozzle plate. A liquid chamber is positioned between the nozzle plate and the filter. The liquid chamber is in fluid communication with the array of nozzles and the filter and includes a width that is substantially perpendicular to the length of the nozzle plate. The liquid chamber includes a structure that is spaced apart from the nozzle plate and spaced apart from the filter. The structure spans the width of the liquid chamber. A liquid source provides a liquid through the manifold, the filter, the liquid chamber under pressure sufficient to jet individual streams of the liquid from the array of nozzles.

Abstract: A continuous liquid printing system gas flow device includes a gas flow duct structure including a first wall and a second wall. The first wall and the second wall are positioned spaced apart and opposite each other to form an opening. The first wall is contoured such that a distance between the first wall and the second wall varies when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the opening.

Abstract: A printhead includes a liquid source, a first substrate, a filter, and a liquid chamber. Portions of the first substrate define a nozzle adapted to emit liquid from the liquid source. The liquid chamber includes a port. The liquid chamber is in fluid communication with the nozzle and the filter and is positioned between the first substrate and the filter.

Abstract: A continuous liquid printing system gas flow device includes a gas flow duct structure including a first wall and a second wall. The first wall and the second wall are positioned spaced apart and opposite each other to form an opening. The first wall is contoured such that a distance between the first wall and the second wall varies when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the opening.

Abstract: A jet break-off length measurement apparatus for a continuous liquid drop emission system is provided. The jet break-off length measurement apparatus comprises a liquid drop emitter containing a positively pressurized liquid in flow communication with at least one nozzle for emitting a continuous stream of liquid. Heater resistor apparatus is adapted to transfer pulses of thermal energy to the liquid in flow communication with the at least one nozzle sufficient to cause the break-off of the at least one continuous stream of liquid into a stream of drops of predetermined volumes. A sensing apparatus adapted to detect the stream of drops of predetermined volumes is provided. A control apparatus is adapted to determine a characteristic of the stream of drops of predetermined volumes that is related to the break-off length. Further apparatus is adapted to inductively charge at least one drop and to cause electric field deflection of charged drops.

Abstract: A jet break-off length measurement apparatus for a continuous liquid drop emission system is provided. The jet break-off length measurement apparatus comprises a liquid drop emitter containing a positively pressurized liquid in flow communication with at least one nozzle for emitting a continuous stream of liquid. Heater resistor apparatus is adapted to transfer pulses of thermal energy to the liquid in flow communication with the at least one nozzle sufficient to cause the break-off of the at least one continuous stream of liquid into a stream of drops of predetermined volumes. A sensing apparatus adapted to detect the stream of drops of predetermined volumes is provided. A control apparatus is adapted to determine a characteristic of the stream of drops of predetermined volumes that is related to the break-off length. Further apparatus is adapted to inductively charge at least one drop and to cause electric field deflection of charged drops.

Abstract: An optical sub-system has an optical element having a curved surface featured with a plurality of recurring surface tooling marks. The depth of any surface tooling mark is less than 0.2 wavelengths, whereby light is diffracted on the curved surface. A spatial filter blocks the diffracted light and passes the undiffracted light.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical grating device including: a base having a surface; a bottom conductive layer provided above said base; a spacer layer is provided and a longitudinal channel is formed in said spacer layer, wherein said spacer layer defines an upper surface and the channel having a first and a second opposing side wall and a bottom; a plurality of spaced apart ribbon elements disposed parallel to each other and spanning the channel, said ribbon elements are fixed to the upper surface of the spacer layer on each side of the channel and each of the ribbon elements is provided with a conductive layer; a mechanical stop provided between the bottom conductive layer and the bottom of the channel wherein the mechanical stop forms a rigid barrier that is separated from a lower ribbon surface of the ribbon elements by a distance h0.

Abstract: A system and method for calibration of a display system with a linear modulator array that includes: a light source; a linear array of light modulating devices driven by a controller; a projection lens system that creates a line image of the linear array on a screen; a scanning mirror that sweeps the line image across the screen to form a two-dimensional scene; and an image sensor containing an area array of light sensitive detectors that captures image intensity data from the two-dimensional scene and transmits the image intensity data to the controller, wherein the controller converts the image intensity data into a one-dimensional array of correction factors for the linear array of light modulating devices.

Abstract: A system and method for calibration of a display system with a linear modulator array that includes: a light source; a linear array of light modulating devices driven by a controller; a projection lens system that creates a line image of the linear array on a screen; a scanning mirror that sweeps the line image across the screen to form a two-dimensional scene; and an image sensor containing an area array of light sensitive detectors that captures image intensity data from the two-dimensional scene and transmits the image intensity data to the controller, wherein the controller converts the image intensity data into a one-dimensional array of correction factors for the linear array of light modulating devices.

Abstract: An image-forming system with enhanced gray levels, including: a primary beam of light having a primary intensity value, a secondary beam of light having a secondary intensity value significantly less than the primary intensity value; a first modulator array of discrete devices receiving the primary beam of light and producing an output with coarse gray levels, a second modulator array of discrete devices receiving the secondary beam of light and producing an output with fine gray levels; a controller for synchronously controlling the first and the second modulator array; and optics that combine the output with fine gray levels and the output with coarse gray levels to form an image with the enhanced gray levels.

Abstract: An image-forming system with enhanced gray levels, including: a primary beam of light having a primary intensity value; a secondary beam of light having a secondary intensity value significantly less than the primary intensity value; a first modulator array of discrete devices receiving the primary beam of light and producing an output with coarse gray levels; a second modulator array of discrete devices receiving the secondary beam of light and producing an output with fine gray levels; a controller for synchronously controlling the first and the second modulator array; and optics that combine the output with fine gray levels and the output with coarse gray levels to form an image with the enhanced gray levels.

Abstract: An image-forming system with enhanced gray levels, including: a primary beam of light having a primary intensity value; a secondary beam of light having a secondary intensity value significantly less than the primary intensity value; a first modulator array of discrete devices receiving the primary beam of light and producing an output with coarse gray levels; a second modulator array of discrete devices receiving the secondary beam of light and producing an output with fine gray levels; a controller for synchronously controlling the first and the second modulator array; and optics that combine the output with fine gray levels and the output with coarse gray levels to form an image with the enhanced gray levels.

Abstract: An image-forming system with enhanced gray levels, including: a primary beam of light having a primary intensity value; a secondary beam of light having a secondary intensity value significantly less than the primary intensity value; a first modulator array of discrete devices receiving the primary beam of light and producing an output with coarse gray levels; a second modulator array of discrete devices receiving the secondary beam of light and producing an output with fine gray levels; a controller for synchronously controlling the first and the second modulator array; and optics that combine the output with fine gray levels and the output with coarse gray levels to form an image with the enhanced gray levels.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical grating device including: a base having a surface; a bottom conductive layer provided above said base; a spacer layer is provided and a longitudinal channel is formed in said spacer layer, wherein said spacer layer defines an upper surface and the channel having a first and a second opposing side wall and a bottom; a plurality of spaced apart ribbon elements disposed parallel to each other and spanning the channel, said ribbon elements are fixed to the upper surface of the spacer layer on each side of the channel and each of the ribbon elements is provided with a conductive layer; a mechanical stop provided between the bottom conductive layer and the bottom of the channel wherein the mechanical stop forms a rigid barrier that is separated from a lower ribbon surface of the ribbon elements by a distance h0.